Two great launches have taken place over the last few weeks, the Apple iPhone and the seventh and last Harry Potter book. So had did the launches compare?
| Facet | Harry Potter | iPhone |
| What is it? | A book | A phone. With extras. |
| Audience | Ostensibly children 9-12. In reality all ages. | Gadget freaks and Apple fans with enough cash to spend or parents who would spend the money. Plus speculators looking to make a quick turnaround. |
| Cost | $34.99, although many places discounted | $599 plus 2 year phone contract |
| Queues | Yes. Although pre-ordering and common sense meant that they really only formed on the day. Queues reached round blocks; the ones I saw were far larger than for iPhone | Yes, some forming 5 days in advance. Press and speculation potential meant people wanted to be first. |
| Attire | School uniform, cloaks, pointy hats (a wizard is not a wizard without one). Face paint. | Jeans and t-shirts. HP fans definitely better dressed. |
| Typical Fan |  Harry Potter fan Originally uploaded by RachelC |
 Apple iPhone Launch Palo Alto – Robert Scoble Originally uploaded by b_d_solis |
| Celebrities | I’m avoiding reports at the moment, so no idea | Over and above the tech geek celebs, Spike Jones, Whoppi Goldberg, more people I don’t know. Looking for clues on this one, |
| Charity Factor | Not really – can’t resell it. | Some ofthe first people in queues were planning on reselling for charity. Plus they got a lots of PR for being there in the first place. |
| Scarcity | Plenty. Lots and lots all over the place | Fears were proved pretty groundless as phones were available without too much rush. Initial auctioning value dropped rapidly |
| Sales in first days | Pre-orders on Amazon over 2m. Just way bigger than the iPhone | 500k? |
| Cool Factor | errrrr, It’s a book. Not really much you can do to up the cool factor. | ooohhhhhh shiny. Let me touch. It’s shiny. Wins the cool factor hands down. |
| Usability | Only one function. Read it. But at 759 pages it makes a good door stop as well. | Does lots of things well and then does not do things that it should do as a convergent device. Plus does somethings badly. Read the reports – they’re mixed. But did I say it’s shiny? |
| Reuse | It’s a once only thing. Once you’ve read it the suspense is gone. re-reading is possible but not as much fun. | Years of fun. Lots of things you can do and it has a continuing functionality. Until the battery goes. |
| Recyclability | Yes. Out to the recycle people and back it will come as next week’s newspaper. | Probably. But lots of components and chemicals so not that easy |
| A sequel? | No, that’s your lot. The story is over and done with. JK could sit back and enjoy her riches but may produce something else – will it be as good? | Yes. Absolutely. In different colours, sizes, functionalities. One that actually works in 3G. This one has a long way to go. |
Now I’m off to read the book for the rest of the day. Anyone got things to add?
Hi Rachel.
Bought four books this morning for £5 each out of Asda.
One for me and the rest for the family.
PS Mums just pinched my copy so I will just have to set he who shell not be named on her.
Dad.